Subject: Re: cats & birds
Date: Apr 19 07:51:16 1995
From: Russell Rogers - rrogers


>From Russell Rogers, Seattle WA, rrogers at halcyon.com

This matter of cats killing birds, and cat owners thinking that it is
okay, because cats do that, comes around on average about once a year
over these internet listservers. I feel like Sisyphus rolling that rock
up the hill. I am completely numb trying to make people understand that
letting cat roam freely outside is not a good ideal.

While I am on the myth analogy, let me point out one;

MYTH: Cats have to hunt in order to be a whole and happy cat.

This is a complete myth. Cat will hunt when given the opportunity to do
so. Criminals commit crime the same way, that is why they are kept in
jails. The difference here is that cat are perfectly at home - at home.

The estimates of birds killed ever year by free roaming cats is in the
millions. some estimates are as high as 120,000,000. This estimate is
calculated by the number of free roaming cat killing at least 12 bird a
year, which seems kind of low to me.

A friend of mine in Minn did his Doctoral study on Blue Jays. In his
study area 80% of nest mortalities were contributable not just to cat,
but to TWO CATS! Think of all the other species that were not being
studied. I'm sure that they had similar mortality rates.

Having a free roaming cat is an irresponsible thing. I have no sympathy
for any cat that is eaten by a Raccoon, Owl or a coyote. My only sympathy
is that it dose not happen more often.

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Russell Rogers
4510 Glenn Way SW
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 935-6280
rrogers at halcyon.com
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